Hat-Trick for Pitcrew

Sydney – Northern Meteor and Sebring have been battling hard in the race to be leading first season sire by Australian winners and their offspring went neck and neck to the line at Warwick Farm in the opening race on Saturday with Sebring gelding Pitcrew gaining a narrow verdict over Northern Meteor colt Meteoros.

The Gai Waterhouse trained Pitcrew was an easy winner at his only two previous runs, but had to pull out all the stops to collar Meteoros by a nose right on the line.

“When he came around the turn he completely lost his action, got off the bit and I thought we’re 100-1,” Waterhouse said.

“He’s got plenty of fight. The track is quite chewed up here. He lost his actions in the middle stages but still rallied.

“He’s a very promising horse this one.”

A $360,000 Magic Millions purchase for Gai Waterhouse and James Harron Bloodstock from the draft of Widden Stud, Pitcrew has now won three from three earning $167,380 in prizemoney for his big group of owners, many of whom were involved in the ownership of his sire Sebring.

Pitcrew is a half-brother to Group I winner Absolut Glam and stakes-winner Nobby Snip being one of six winners from Pine Away (USA), who has not had a foal since.

Pitcrew has always been an eye-catching individual and was one of the first foals by Sebring that was paraded at the annual Widden Stud open days in 2010.

He is one of 15 Australian winners for Sebring, who stands at Widden Stud this spring at a fee of $38,500.